Genetic predisposition for immunoglobulin E production explains atopic risk in children: Tohoku Medical Megabank cohort study.

Abstract

The atopic march lacks early identification methods for high-risk children. In this study, we assessed whether the risk of atopic diseases in infants could be predicted using a polygenic score (PGS) for total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. The PGS estimated using the polygenic model generated by PRS-CS was significantly correlated with log-transformed IgE levels (ρ = 0.200, p < 2.2 × 10^-16). Assessment of the risk from birth to 2 years of age in a Japanese birth cohort (n = 17,154) applying the estimated PGS revealed significantly elevated incidence risk ratios in the highest PGS quintile (Q5) compared with those in the reference quintiles (Q1-Q3) for food allergy (1.51-fold; 95% confidence interval: 1.30-1.76), atopic dermatitis (1.30-fold; 1.12-1.51), and both conditions (1.88-fold; 1.46-2.43). These findings address critical gaps in allergy and PGS research among non-European populations, suggesting the contribution of genetic predisposition to IgE production in early-onset allergic diseases and supporting the use of PGS in early intervention.